Archive for the 'Geek Stuff' Category

Flip Minos on June 4th?

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on May 22, 2008
in Gadgets and Gear
. 1 Comment

nullThe iHike article I mentioned earlier had a lot of good things to say about the Flip Ultra — a lightweight USB camcorder that can record an hour of video at 640×480 resolution.

Now it looks like the gadget blogs have got their hands on scans of the line’s next product — the Minos. No one knows anything about it other than it costs 20 bucks more than the Ultra, looks a lot smaller and slimmer, and is due to hit store shelves on June 4th. Maybe.

If you’re looking to start taking cheap, easy video on your hikes, be sure to keep your eye out for these guys. Look for some decent upgrades, or otherwise check out the copycat-but-way-cheaper Creative Vado instead.

Via Engadget.

Backpacker’s iHike

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on May 19, 2008
in Gadgets and Gear, Web Sites and Apps and in the media
. 1 Comment

The latest issue of Backpacker arrived in my mailbox this morning. Instead of the usual scene of outdoorsy bliss, this month’s cover had a big ol’ Google Earth hiking route plastered across the front.

Immediately, I turned to the cover story — “iHike” — which offers “a complete guide to the digital revolution — and how to join it.”

Even though it doesn’t mention Modern Hiker anywhere, it’s still got a ton of surprising and useful information for us crunchy technophiles — like knowing that lithium batteries last twice as long as alkalines in GPS units, or that metal carabiners can interfere with satellite reception. It’s also got side-by-side comparisons of different mapping programs, online photo storage sites, and even tips on getting better photos and videos while on the trail.

It’s a really nice 8-page intro for anyone who’s looking to make more work for themselves after they get home from hiking — whether your audience is a bunch of blog readers or just the folks back home.

Just remember us web old-timers, ok?

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Image by matildaben.

Online Map Jigsaw Puzzles

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on May 18, 2008
in Web Sites and Apps and maps
. 0 Comments

Personally, I’m not one for puzzles of any sort. If the solution doesn’t become apparent to me within a few minutes of starting, I end up just getting frustrated and angry. Maybe puzzles are supposed to teach me a life-lesson about dealing with that, but so far they’ve been unsuccessful.

However, I do have a lot of “puzzle people” in my life, and a puzzle that tests your knowledge of geography is ok in my book. Or, at least, as good as a puzzle is going to get.

See how well you know the planet at National Geographic.

Via Contours.

Looking for New Boots

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on May 9, 2008
in Gadgets and Gear and hiking
. 3 Comments

Another New England transplant wrote me this morning (how many of us are there here? You guys all want to get together to try to find good apple cider?) because she wants to take advantage of the the big REI Anniversary Sale before it’s over. Her target: New boots. She writes:

Wanted to see if you have any advice on good brands. I used to have high-top ones for ankle support, but I rarely hike with a big pack anymore and mostly just do day hikes, so I figure I maybe don’t need to buy big ol’ heavy ones.

I’m partial to the high-top boots myself, and recommended the Vasque Breeze, a lightweight, superbreatheable high-top that’s done me very well for over two years on short day hikes and 3-day backpacking trips. As luck would have it, both the
women’s and
men’s versions are on sale, too.

… but since I’ve already found my preferred boot, I’m not much help if she gets to the store and doesn’t dig the Vasques. So does anyone else have a favorite lightweight boot or low-top hiking shoe? Share! And hurry up, the sale’s almost over.

New RSS Feed

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on May 6, 2008
in Geek Stuff and site news
. 0 Comments

I know there’s a few of you guys out there who subscribe to Modern Hiker via an RSS reader.

That’s great, and I encourage it, wholeheartedly. But hey, can you guys do me a solid and change your subscription to the Feedburner RSS feed? Not only will it give me a better idea of who’s reading the site, but it will also allow me to add stuff like comments, links to email the post, and other fun stuff in the RSS feed itself … at least, in theory.

All you have to do is click on that big orange RSS logo to the left, or click here.

Modern Hiker recommends — and is also horribly addicted to — the Google Reader. But whatever floats your boat is fine by me.

Thanks!

e-Survivalist in Joshua Tree

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on May 6, 2008
in Gadgets and Gear, Geek Stuff, Joshua Tree National Park, in the media and product reviews
. 1 Comment

nullThis weekend, the LA Times ran a story by Dan Neil, following his adventures as he tries to make a six-day, north-south backpack through Joshua Tree National Park — weighed down with 7 pounds of high-tech gear. And that’s 7 pounds in a pack that already tips the scales at 50 pounds. Ultralight, this is not.

I realize this Neil probably did this just for the story. No experienced hiker would feel the need for a GPS receiver, two personal locator beacons and a satellite phone. Nor would they ditch their tent in the middle of the park because their pack was getting too heavy. *I* wouldn’t bring an iPod, but that’s a personal thing.

There are mini-reviews of several of the devices he uses, including the much lusted-after Garmin Colorado, as well as a few traditional travel tales to keep you entertained. Neil’s a good writer, and his description of the mindset of long-distance hiking is one of the most accurate I’ve ever read:

Like other sustained-heart-rate aerobic exercises, backpacking releases neuro-hormones that, first, bring a rush of mental energy — the brainstorms, flashes of insight and relived conversations that you mutter to yourself like a crazy person.

Then, the lull of repetition, the hypnosis of boots, the trance of the trail. Crunch crunch crunch. No talking now. This is the time of listening to your body.

But for all his modern gadget-based assistance, in the end — even though he drove through the park before he set out to bury water all over the place — after 3 days and 40 miles his toenails threaten to fall off and he hitches a ride back to his car.

Goes to show you — the gadgets don’t make the hiker. The hiker makes the gadgets.

But the hiker still probably wants all those gadgets, anyway.

Photo Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Other Outdoor Nerds

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 23, 2008
in Gadgets and Gear, Geek Stuff, Technology and backpacking
. 0 Comments

So apparently I’m not the only giant nerd who also enjoys getting dirty outside. Boing Boing’s Gadget Editor Joel Johnson has just headed into the wild, uncontrolled wilderness of New York’s Harriman State Park with a bunch of gadgets and those solar panel chargers we read so much about, but will probably never, ever buy.

He’s attempting to blog, review and twitter (is that a verb now?) while camping and hiking — and making nerdy jokes that I very much appreciate.

For the less nerdy of you, his opening post details his list of gear and — as we all do — complains about his pack weight (almost 50 pounds for a 3-4 day! Damn!). My favorite gear item is a copy of Thoreau’s “Walden” on an Amazon Kindle.

Later, he panics when his solar panel appears to stop working, and manages to post a Flickr video via a 1xRTT wireless internet connection.

I’m sure that kind of cell-phone internet flies on the East Coast parks, but I wouldn’t bet on it out here. But still — I’d love to have a blogging office-view like Joel’s got:

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Actually, I’d love to have a blogging office period.


Image by Joel Johnson

Google Earth 4.3 Beta

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 20, 2008
in Web Sites and Apps and maps
. 0 Comments

Recently, Google released version 4.3 beta of their beloved Google Earth program.

It’s a minor update, but does add lots of shiny new bells and whistles — like day and night lighting effects, increased 3D views and buildings, and a new Street View layer to match up with the same view on Google Maps. Basically, lots of pretty eye-candy, and the ability to create theoretically possible clear-sky views of downtown L.A. and the San Gabriel Mountains.

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The Google Earth Blog has done an excellent job of rounding up all the new features into one easy to view video demo. Be sure to stop by and check it out, then download the new Earth software by following this link:


Now With Countours

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 8, 2008
in Web Sites and Apps and maps
. 1 Comment

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A few days ago, Google quietly added some fancy new contour lines to its “Terrain Mode” on Google Maps.

As noted before, most of the prominent peaks are labeled, as well as other geographic features. In National Parks, campgrounds, ranger stations, and a few trails show up, too — but our local National Forests are still missing this information … although honestly, I’m sure it’s just a matter of time.

Now, when are we going to get to print these things out instead of having to buy topographical maps?

Via GOBlog, courtesy Team Geared Up.

Breaking News: Plight of Missing Hikers Will Make Great Movie

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 8, 2008
in Video and Web Sites and Apps
. 0 Comments


Breaking News: Plight Of Missing Hikers Will Make Great Movie

Courtesy my fine friends at The Onion.